§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on the reduction of surplus places in schools since August 1988.
§ Mr. ForthIt is estimated that since August 1988 local education authorities have removed about 100,000 places a year. But the net effect has to a large extent been balanced out by the provision of new places in areas where pupil numbers are expanding. As a result, there is still much more that needs to be done. I shall therefore continue to give high priority in the allocation of resources to cost-effective projects for the removal of surplus places.